Village Voice No 231 February 2012
Melbourne & District
STEVE EYES UP NEW COP JOB by TOM MILLS
newton fallowell
raising the standard of estate agency
MELBOURNE ESTATE AGENTS Residential Sales and Lettings Tel: 01332 Melbourne: 01332865696 865696
INSIDE STORIES
Leisure centre’s future – Page 2
A CRIME and drugs expert from Melbourne is showing an interest in being the county's first ever police commissioner. Steve Spear, of South Street, believes that the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner will better serve communities. The role would replace the present Police Authority and the successful candidate would take office in November. He also believes that, subject to the detailed specifications of the role, it will provide for greater transparency in the working of the police and allow chief constables to be held to account for the service they manage. Mr Spear is not critical of police forces in general or the Derby/shire force in particular. He told Village Voice: “I have always held it in high regard and have found it to be very open to new ideas and initiatives. Many initiatives that are now standard practice across many forces originated in Derby.” With a background of working within the health authority, Mr Spear, who is 60, together with colleagues from other services, recognised the link between health and crime. This resulted in Steve establishing the Drug Action team in Derby, bringing together Health, Police and the Probation service to work as a partnership to reduce re-offending. The programme proved to be very successful and resulted in Mr Spear being seconded to Nottinghamshire Police where he created the Crime and
70 years wed and still smiling – Page 7
Drugs Partnership and later the Adult Offending team, initiatives that resulted in a crime reduction of 50 per cent over a five-year period. "The one yardstick for measuring the efficiency of the police and criminal justice system is the absence of crime and anti-social behaviour," he said. " Crime, once committed, needs to be solved and the offender brought to justice – but we need a renewed emphasis on crime prevention, targeting known offenders. The new Commissioner will have to work with the Chief Constable and other agencies to achieve this." Steve (above) believes that the political parties should nominate candidates but those candidates should have the independence to act locally, acting on behalf of the local electorate and not on behalf of their Party. He also believes that the candidate should be selected on the basis of their ability to do the job and not on political patronage.
BROWN’S Field in Melbourne was the place to be for all those wanting to take advantage of the first fall of fresh snow on the first weekend of February. Families turned out to make the most of it while the sun shone and the weather was mild.
offers
MoT TEST CENTRE
in store
SELECTION OF WORKSHOPS AND OFFICE SPACE TO RENT
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Tractor power for charity – Page 16
MGelbourne arage
AEG 6 MARKET PLACE, MELBOURNE TELEPHONE: 01332 862607 www.blatchs.co.uk email: sales@blatchs.co.uk
Bryony is a Pole star – Page12,13
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